A/N Post- Junkyard Dog. This is what happened in my mind during scenes we weren't shown. Yes, my mind changed the order of events. It does that sometimes. Read and Review, please. ~Sherlocked Gallifreyan.

KITT was fully repaired. No signs remained to indicate he had been nearly destroyed. Bonnie walked out of the lab/garage in search of Michael. She found him sleeping uncomfortably in a hard plastic chair. "Michael," she said, gently placing a hand on his shoulder to wake him. He started awake but relaxed when he saw her. "KITT's finished."

Michael rose somewhat unsteadily and limped to the garage. Looking through the window in the door, he smiled when he saw KITT. "He looks good," Michael said over his shoulder to Bonnie, who tiredly nodded her thanks.

Michael pushed the door open and approached KITT. "Hey, buddy," he said fondly, patting the smooth, black fender. "You look good."

"Thank you, Michael," the black car said. "I wish I could say the same for you." Inwardly, Michael relaxed. KITT's personality seemed to have survived intact. He seemed to be the same slightly sarcastic, intelligent, caring car Michael loved so much. What Michael didn't notice, and what KITT took great pains to conceal, was that KITT felt terrible for letting Michael down at the junkyard. Since reconstruction, KITT had rerun that scenario through his processors, looking for ways he could have protected Michael.

"What do you say we go home?" Michael asked. KITT opened the driver door for Michael. 'Home' for the moment was the small apartment Michael was renting during his recovery. Michael sat stiffly behind the wheel and pulled the door shut. Michael's stiff movements worried KITT, but the Trans Am remained quiet. He knew Michael didn't like being unnecessarily prodded. But he did keep an eye on Michael's vital signs as Michael drove out of the garage and toward the apartment.

Michael drove in silence. The interior was familiar, but everything felt odd. It took him a while, but he figured out what was wrong: everything was new. He decided that that wasn't 'wrong' so much as different. To be redundant, it was all new. He chuckled, drawing KITT's attention.

"What's so funny, Michael?" KITT asked.

"The new interior is new," Michael said.

"I don't understand," KITT said. "Of course the interior is new."

"Don't worry about it, partner," Michael said, patting the dash. "I'm probably just tired." As soon as he said that, he yawned.

"Michael," KITT said. "I suggest you let me drive before you fall asleep."

"Go ahead," Michael murmured, reclining the seat and closing his eyes. He was asleep in moments.

KITT had fully expected Michael to argue with him. That was Michael's way. But Michael's tired acquiescence worried him. Michael was only ever agreeable if he was terribly hurt in some way. Had KITT missed something? He scanned Michael again, looking for some small sign of internal damage but found nothing other than the wounds about which he already knew. Wounds you should have been able to prevent, a dark voice told KITT. You should have paid more attention. Michael wouldn't have been hurt if you were more attentive. KITT tried to ignore the voice and focused solely on the road. But the voice kept whispering, reminding him of the times he had failed Michael.

Michael jolted awake, the shot still ringing in his ears. "Where are we, KITT?" he asked, stretching as best he could and trying to disguise the momentary panic that accompanied the dream.

"We are twenty minutes and forty seconds from your apartment," KITT informed him. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine," Michael said. "It was just a dream."

"According to my databanks, you'd feel better if you talked about it," KITT suggested. He didn't expect Michael to talk about his dream. Michael kept so many things buried. KITT was concerned for Michael's mental well-being. Physically, Michael would make a full recovery. But mentally? The human mind was a delicate thing, easily damaged and hard to heal.

"I said I'm fine, KITT," Michael repeated sternly. KITT fell silent again, wondering if Michael's sudden hostility stemmed from a lack of trust. What if Michael didn't trust KITT anymore? What if Michael left? What if Devon needed a new driver for KITT? What if KITT couldn't protect Michael? KITT panicked and swerved slightly in the lane. Michael noticed it. That's not right, he thought. KITT doesn't do that.

Switching to Normal Mode, Michael pulled off the road and into the parking lot of a supermarket. "What's wrong?" KITT asked, worry shading his cultured voice.

"I was about to ask you the same thing, KITT," Michael stated matter-of-factly.

"Nothing's wrong," KITT lied after a small hesitation. Michael shook his head.

"What's wrong?" he asked again. Again, KITT denied any problems. Frustrated at his car's apparent lack of trust, Michael struck the wheel angrily with his palm. "Damn it, KITT!" he snapped. "Come on. What's wrong?" Had KITT been human, he would have been cowering in fear at Michael's feet, waiting for another blow he feared but knew he deserved.

"I'm sorry, Michael," KITT began, trying to hide his fear. "I don't know what you want. I… I'm sorry."

Hearing KITT's uncertainty, Michael regretting yelling. "Look, KITT," he said in a calmer voice. "There's something clearly bothering you. What is it?"

"I'm a computer, Michael," KITT chided. "Nothing can 'bother' me." Michael saw through the bravado.

"You're more than a computer to me," Michael said. "You're the closest thing to family I've got left, and I know something's bothering you." He waited, heart pounding, fearing that his concerns would be shot down, that KITT would continue on as if he were fine.

"Fine, Michael," KITT said, voice laden with resignation. "I'm scared. I'm afraid that… that you'll leave me and that Devon will have to find me a new driver and the new driver won't be you and you'll be gone and that you could get hurt and that you don't trust me anymore and that I could fail you again and… and…"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa," Michael said, cutting off the clumsy, panicked, confused torrent of words. Both remained silent as Michael registered everything KITT had blurted.

"First of all," Michael said. "I am not leaving you, KITT. I'm not going anywhere. Devon won't have to find you a new driver. I'm staying right here. You got that?" When KITT remained silent, Michael repeated himself. "Do you understand that, KITT?"

"Yes, Michael," KITT said quietly.

"Good. Second. KITT, don't ever think for a moment that I don't trust you," Michael said. "You're my partner, KITT. Beyond that, you're family." He absently stroked the dash as he talked. "I trust you with my life. I always have, and I always will. I mean it, KITT. Do you understand that?"

"Yes, Michael," KITT said quietly.

"KITT, you've never let me down," Michael said. "You've always been there for me. Even when I didn't really want you around. You stuck by my side. You kept me safe. Saved my life more times than I care to count. If anyone let his friend down, it was me. KITT, you've rarely needed my help, but the time you did, I couldn't help you. I was absolutely powerless to save you." With his other hand, he wiped a tear from his cheek.

"It broke my heart when they pulled you out of that acid," he continued in a broken voice. "I thought… Well, KITT, I thought you were dead. Another partner I had let down. But Bonnie and the scientists rebuilt you, KITT. I was thrilled." He smiled through the tears. "I still am."

"Thank you, Michael," KITT said simply. Michael nodded. KITT was as human as anyone, and he could be scared and traumatized, too.

"Now let's go home, pal," Michael said. KITT agreed readily, and Michael left the parking lot for home.